Shades of Summer Home Tour | Navy & Neutral

Welcome to the Shades of Summer Home Tour…I’m so glad you are here. I haven’t been part of an official home tour for a long time and I’m a little bit nervous! I can finally say that our living & dining room makeover is finished so the timing of this home tour is perfect. You will be getting the first look at the totally finished rooms. I’m also including the entry and kitchen with some simple, summer decorating touches. If you are visiting from Kelley Nan, a very special welcome to you. I love Kelley’s style because it’s classic and refined, yet warm and inviting at the same time. That’s not easy to do yet she does it effortlessly all the time! So if it’s your first time here, I’m glad you came.

My colors for this summer are navy and neutral, which should not come as a surprise! I love navy during any season, but especially in the summer. As you’re taking the tour, and it’s a bit long, I’ll be updating you on a few final makeover choices. I’ll mostly let the pictures speak for themselves, but I’ll pop in when I have something to tell you. Enjoy!

Shades of Summer Home Tour

The only changes in the entry were the floor and a new ceiling light. Like I said in my Kitchen Coffee Station post, my old lights were bought for all the wrong reasons and I have never liked them. For this makeover, I spent a ton of time looking online at various websites for the perfect lights. I knew what I wanted but it took me a while to find it. I finally found this line of lights from the Capital Lighting Midtown Collection. They are simple, yet updated which is the look I wanted. I chose the burnished bronze with a linen shade but this collection is available in other finishes and shade colors. I also changed out the lights in my back hallway and kitchen with this fixture from the same collection.

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Since my peonies were in full bloom when I started taking photographs, I considered it a sign that I should cut most of them and bring them inside. The dark pink color pops off all the cool blues and ivories for a fresh summer look. Simply adding fresh flowers and greenery to your rooms makes them feel alive. If you don’t have anything growing in your yard, grocery store flowers are an excellent way to achieve the same look.

Changes in the living room were mostly to the background with the addition of new flooring, paint, window panels and an area rug. I treated myself to some new blue plates and pillows, but other than that, all the furniture and accessories stayed the same. I had planned to use neutral pillows on the sofa but when I tried out the navy ones, I was smitten immediately. They help the slipper chairs make sense and have a lovely texture.

In the photo below, the chair in the foreground is where I work. The hours I clock sitting in that chair are actually comfortable and efficient. The two baskets stacked next to the chair serve as “desk drawers” and hold everything I need.

The dining room is where all the real action happened and is the room that changed the most. It looks totally and completely different. I am delighted with the way it turned out and would not change a thing now that it’s all finished. I considered installing hard-wired lights to the walls flanking the window but instead chose budget-friendly lanterns with LED candles. They add a little bit of rustic, farmhouse charm as well.

The artwork on the wall over the board and batten is again simple but fresh. I framed two of my new botanical prints in simple black frames. I was at the end of my budget so I did just the two, but I’m considering adding three more to make a lovely, gallery-wall style display. For now though, I enjoy the simplicity.

Tip: Using botanical prints in your decor is the next best thing to adding natural elements.

The roman shades were a splurge, but well worth it. I had them custom-made and they turned out exactly like I had envisioned them. The minute they were installed, I knew I had made the right choice. Now THAT is a good feeling!

Our kitchen isn’t new, it’s not big and it’s not really updated. I’ve done easy things like new paint, appliances, and hardware but we still have the original cabinets. It’s quite functional though and like anything that’s been around for a long time, it’s comfortable. I have a wish list that’s a mile long of changes I’d like to make but I have no idea if any of them will ever happen. Time will tell.

Changes from the makeover spilled into the kitchen but were minimal: new floor, new ceiling light and I painted the island the same color as the board and batten. You can check out a few more details and see a source list by clicking this link:

To see the other living & dining room makeover posts click HERE. I’ll be back soon with one final post that talks a little bit about cost and lessons learned. I’ll also line up some before & after pictures.

No home tour is ever complete without a picture of our sweet dog, Kelly. She’s always right there and is the best little helper.

Now it’s time to send you along to Tamara’s blog, CITRINELIVING.Like me, she loves beautiful blues and she has such a talent for adding color to her spaces while keeping them serene and calm. Her Shades of Summer Home Tour is loaded with ideas and inspiration that anyone can use.

You won’t want to miss the other blogs on the tour. These girls have been working hard to provide inspiration for bringing touches of summer into your own home. Here’s the line-up with the colors they are featuring:

Ann, I always enjoy seeing your latest updates and love how your home is a fresh take on traditional style. It looks timeless, including your kitchen. The tile backsplash over your stove reminds me of backsplashes from a few years ago, but is beautiful still with your fresh white kitchen and its blue accents.

This is such a pretty home tour! I love all of the updates. The wood floors are beautiful. The roman shades are perfect in the dining room. The navy is such a pretty accent for summer or any season! I like how your navy touches in the kitchen really make the rooms flow. Looking forward to some pictures of your garden. Always a treat.

Ann, yours was my most favorite tour of all participants. I think what set it apart was exactly the lack of “pizzazz”. Classic and beautiful is extremely appealing, and is harder to pull off than “trendy”.

You have been blessed with a lovely home. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour. I am new to your blog so my question is one regarding an item in your home before you did your make-over. What is the brand of the sofa in the living room? I am looking for one just like it. I am looking for one just like it that has a firm back rather than a loose soft pillow back.

Hi Isobel, The sofa is from a local Artvan store. Artvan is a furniture chain in the midwest. It’s the Chloe II and it was special ordered in the fabric Desire Pearl. It’s about a year old and looks brand new. I love it. :) Hope this helps!

Love your decorating – I have to say some is like mine but enjoy everything. The blue accents are so pretty & love the flowers colors. Your kitchen looks so cozy – not sure I would do anything to it! Thanks so much!

Your “summer” home is delightfully designed and so fresh and beautifully summer! Navy and neutral; I never would have thought of the combination, but isn’t it glorious? Even the smallest of touches you added to rooms has given them a new personailty! Those neutral pillows on the navy chairs look amazing. Speaking of amazing, your dining room is just that! I can’t begin to tell you what I love the most, the lanterns, those gorgeous roman shades, the botanical prints, the tablescape, the navy and neutral chair appointments…I LOVE IT! You have such creativity bundled with in you, Ann! I’m ever envious! I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the picture that took my heart away was sweet Kelly resting and enjoying the sun.

Dear Ann, Absolutely beautiful!! I love your dining room (board & batten). Looks wonderful! I really love your kitchen! I think small kitchens are the best, you have no choice but to stay organize and keep it things simple. Thank you for sharing your home.

I love the various shades of blue in your home! Very inviting!! I truly enjoy following your blog. I have found several,new recipes and decorating tips that I have use. Thanks!! You are a breath of fresh air!

Ann, I really enjoyed the tour of your lovely home. On an earlier post I had written down the navy color of your cabinets. Today I added Linwood Sands to my paint list. We are in the early stages of building a home in the country and you are giving me lots of good ideas! Thank you for the post and Kelly is adorable!

Dear Ann, I like your kitchen island. We are considering removing our kitchen table and having an island installed that would include additional storage. I would like two things from you, if you don’t mind. 1. A more complete look at the overall structure of your island. 2. A graphed floorplan showing where stuff (cabinets, fridge, stove, etc.) are installed in your kitchen. I look forward to meeting you here on Sundays and Wednesdays each week. Be blessed! Irene

Love the blues paired with the naturals and the splashes of pink. The dark furniture makes it sing. For my taste , I would have added something – not sure what – just to make it hit the high note. Pizazz , it’s lacking Pizazz. Don’t get offended , I’m not critizing , your home is absolutely lovely. I like everything you have done and always look forward to your next post.

I loved your home the old way SO much that I couldn’t imagine any changes. But you certainly pulled it off beautifully! Just lovely. Adore the dark work furniture with the blue and white and everything quaint and sophisticated at the same time.

I love your blues! It makes me have blue envy and want to redecorate my home with a whole new color scheme! I love all of the recent changes you made Ann – especially those twin lanterns you hung up in your dining room – so pretty! Always love seeing your home (and sweet Kelly!). So fun doing this with you!

Love everything! Blue and white have been my best friends for as long as I can remember. Very versatile, and can be paired with so many styles and other colors as trends come and go. Your kitchen counter and backsplash in the white and blue tile is a classic. If it were me I would never change it. Thanks for sharing your beautiful and welcoming home.

Your home looks so clean, crisp, and inviting. A place to enjoy a marvelous cup of coffee and a piece of cake, a place to kick back and relax, a quiet corner to say a few prayers for your family and friends and reflect on a life full of life!

Peaceful and Quiet but all ready to welcome Family, Friends, and Neighbors.

Ann, I am in love with your beautiful home! Your mix of blues and wood tones is so classic and it’s all so warm and welcoming! I especially love those vibrant peonies are and love how they mix with your blue also. Just gorgeous! So fun to do this tour with you!

Anne, I love, love, love what you’ve done to your home. I’ve said it before but I must repeat myself–you’re the blog that I most adore. You’re style and decorating sense is so refreshing and fabulous.Please be my personal decorator!!! Your dining room is such a change, I didn’t think I could like it more; however, it’s wonderful. I too have wood floors; aren’t they so much better than carpet? Your accent rugs & every change that you made makes such a difference. I especially like the dog, did she come with the sofa. haha Love, Cookie

Ann, your home looks gorgeous! I am so jealous of those peonies you have growing and your living room and dining room updates look awesome. I agree on the Roman shades- totally worth it! Bravo, my friend xoxo

Ann, I visited all the homes on the tour and all were very pretty but I must tell you I thought your tour was the very best. Your pictures gave us a much better view of the rooms and decor. Love that you always include that cutie Kelly!

I LOVE the changes you have made!! Your home feels so welcoming. And I’m so glad you didn’t jump on the Neutral bandwagon. I love the color, blue, too & you have accented your home with just the right amount. I hope you feel completely in love with it as I am smitten with your zest to throw blue into your rooms.

Your home is beautiful! Love navy blue and neutrals – such a clean look. Don’t know if I have ever seen a dough bowl that large before but I love it. Love your kitchen counter tops. Were they original to the house when you bought or did you install them? Either way it’s a great look. You have elegant taste and I can’t wait to see more of what’s in store at your blog.

Hi Debra…the countertops are old but not that old! We installed them about 15 years ago as a quick, inexpensive fix to Formica. I never thought I would have them this long but they’re still here! Thanks for taking the time to comment. <3

I love your summer home tour Ann!! The blues mixed with creams, whites and wood tones are so relaxing and pretty!! I love all of your beautiful blooms too! So fun to tour with you and Happy Summer!! xo Heather

So happy for you Ann:) A fresh and welcoming home you styled. You chose colors you love and the dining room has to be the biggest change. Do you have the corner cabinets in the room? It looks like the living room drapes has the similar color of the paint in the dining room. Kelly is adorable! Have a beautiful day, Kathleen in Az

Thank you for the tour; everything is beautiful Ann. Love the fresh crisp look of blue and white; and those floors…….gorgeous!!!!! Very nice; each room is lovely (sure would love to work in your kitchen). Peonies are lovely and Kelly is precious. Thanks again

Wow Ann – I love all the changes you made to your home. It was lovely before, but now it is stunning. Your homework paid off with wonderful results. Congratulations and thank you for sharing the results on this tour.

You mentioned still having the original kitchen cabinets but the kitchen cabinets go perfect with your style (I think). I love the color choices on everything but again think the cabinet style is perfect. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with me.

All I have to say, Ann, is wow, wow, wow! I have been a longtime follower, but due to health reasons have been away for awhile. The last time I had seen one of your posts was when I think you had some damage and needed to revamp. Well, I’ll say you did and with a bang! Everything looks so updated, fresh but maintains your style. Am going to go back thru the posts I missed to follow your processes. Great, great job, congratulations

What fun. I love blue and white and I’m such a fan of your decorating style. Your room decor just makes me happy. Fresh and so pretty. The rooms are also welcoming and cozy. Thanks for the home tour and I can’t wait to check out the others. We are getting ready to add an addition to our small house this summer that will include a dining room added onto the kitchen, a powder room and upstairs laundry area. The construction will take up most of our budget so I’ll need to be really creative when it comes to decorating. One thing I know for sure, the new powder room and the laundry area will be blue and white.

Ann, I love all your decorating and find it so inspiring. I particularly think the blue of your long kitchen cabinet is perfect. Would you be able to provide that color name and brand? A bedside table of that exact color is just what I need. Well, to be honest, it’s just what I want; “need” is a bit of a stretch.

Ann, I was so excited when your new posting came up. The new fresh look is beautiful, and it is nice to see it along with classic pieces. Everything that you did is perfection and I am sure you are loving it and enjoying it as well. I have looked at it several times myself. The way you incorporated some charming pieces adds such warmth to the whole look. Your kitchen looks great too. I don’t think that you need to do a thing to it.

Your dining room is stunning! Love your choices. One reason I enjoy your decor so much is that you add farmhouse touches without the entire room screaming “farmhouse”. Your blog is also very calming to me. Thank you for doing another home tour! Oh, I also like the links to items, or similar items that you’ve used. This is a big help.

Ann, your home is so beautiful! I love the pop of blues in your décor. Your kitchen might be small and as you say, “not updated” but it is so fresh and bright, I think it’s lovely just the way it is. I could sit there with my coffee and just smile at what I see.

Your home is so inviting, Ann! Everything is beautiful–crisp, clean, and classic! You have a talent for adding just enough new accessories to keep it current without succumbing to trend-overload. Your home–and your blog–makes me want to come over for coffee, a chat, and a visit with Kelly! Lovely!!!

I have to tell you how much I love the look of your home! It’s so peaceful, elegant and yet relaxing too. The blues are so lovely. Your dining room turned out fabulous. What I love about your home, Ann, is that you often use what you have as opposed to buying new all the time. Keeping your vintage dining room set and making it look fresh and yet traditional at the same time. In your kitchen, one of the first things I noticed was the darling window treatment. Did you make it? It is very vintage looking. I love how you keep the ceramic tile counters and work with them for the kitchen theme. Your kitchen doesn’t look like everyone else’s. I love it!! Well done!

No reason to be nervous Ann! Lovely home! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing the others as well. Also, thank you for centralizing your links. This making shopping so much easier than having to scroll all over trying to find them. ????

I just love the way your diningroom turned out! Beautiful. Navy is also my colour, but I do add some red in there as well. thank you for sharing. Our living room needs a make over real bad, so your ideas come in handy. greetings from The Netherlands

Search

Categories

Categories

Welcome to

On Sutton Place

A blog about a house that I lovingly transformed into a home. It didn't happen overnight and it didn't break the bank. This is where I decorate, bake and create... and share DIY ideas that anyone can do. Click my picture to learn more.

My Latest Videos

Subscribe and get My eBooks!

Shop My Home

Turn on your JavaScript to view content

Amazon Affiliate

On Sutton Place/Ann Drake is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

guest post policy

At this time, On Sutton Place is not accepting guest posts of any kind.

Summer Fun!

Disclaimer

By accessing or using any page on On Sutton Place, you agree that you have read, understand, and will abide by the following:

Disclosure: Some pages and posts contain affiliate links, or link to eBay where I am a content contributor. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to products featured on this site. At no additional cost to you, your purchase helps support my work and keeps this site running. Thank you!

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information displayed on this website, On Sutton Place/Ann Drake makes no guarantee as to the procedures & information contained here. The publisher will not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising from the use of the information displayed on this website. On Sutton Place is not intended to substitute for the advice of a professional.

Printables & Images Policy: Please do not use my printables for anything that is sold or alter them in any way. Please do not post one (or more) of my printables on your site without my permission. If you would like to feature one of my images, please ask first. This includes, but is not limited to, other blogs, round-up sites and magazine publication sites. I can be reached at ann@onsuttonplace.com.